A Non-Immigrant Visa Guide: Different Types and Their Purpose!

We all know that there are perks of going to an abroad destination on an immigration basis. You settle down in a foreign land and build your career and family from the ground up wishing for the heights of success. But not everyone is willing to leave the roots of their country, but something temporary to visit for, work for, or study for. There are high chances that the candidate would want to visit a foreign country just to relax, take the family out for a holiday, go on a corporate project, or just visit for research. That’s exactly known as a Non-Immigrant Visa.

If we talk about the textbook definition of the same- Common visas are non-immigrant visas, which are utilized for various purposes, including business trips, medical visits, and even to pursue further education abroad. An Indian national traveling abroad is required to possess either an immigrant visa or a non-immigrant visa.

In contrast to an immigrant visa, which grants permanent residence, an Indian national is obliged to demonstrate to the consular officer that they possess substantial connections to their country of residence and substantiate their intention to repatriate once their visit’s objectives have been fulfilled.

There are different Non-Immigrant Visa types and the process of every type varies from country to country. Every country has a different norm for a temporary visa permit and the rules are to be followed strictly. In this blog, we are exactly going to discuss various visa types and visa policies.

Your complete Non-Immigrant Visa Guide

Visitor Visa

A visitor visa for any nation is a type of non-immigrant visa that allows you to remain in a certain country for a set length of time. As a temporary visitor in a nation, you can often attend short-term business activities, visit relatives and friends, or travel as a tourist. A visiting visa also permits you to travel abroad for medical treatment. The goal of this visit, however, must be made quite plain and to the point.

The individual must also demonstrate a clear desire to return to the country of origin after the objective of the visit has been fulfilled. The visiting visa has a fixed deadline, and the applicant may be required to state the precise length of time they will stay in the nation.

What are the reasons that are classified for a Visitor Visa?

• Visiting for holiday, vacation, or recreational purpose
• Visiting friends or relatives abroad
• Visiting for a business conference, workshop, or seminar
• Visiting for medical treatment
• Visiting for the graduation ceremony
• Visiting for short-term work training or simulation.

Work or study (save for a brief recreational course of study as a pastime, etc.) is not permitted when in a nation on a temporary visiting visa. If you come as a tourist/visitor, you must seek to modify your status or move to a different visa category before working or studying in a foreign nation. There are various countries that allow visitor visas. Some of the popular countries are:

• Australia
• Canada
• United States of America
• United Kingdom
• New Zealand
• Schengen (European Countries)

The process and documentation of all countries might differ as per the respective country’s norms and regulations. Generally, the following things are required while filing for a visitor visa process. 

The essential conditions for a visitor visa are as follows:

– Health check-up.
– Financial papers
– Certificates of Character and Insurance
– Proof of Accommodation Other documents contain:
– Completed and filled out visa application form.
– Upload images digitally according to the parameters.
– Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of your anticipated departure from India.
– A photocopy of a valid passport’s bio page
– A copy of your two-way tickets, which you must send at the time of your application
– Recent bank statements as evidence of sufficient finances.
– An invitation letter from a sponsor, family member, or friend who lives abroad.
– Financial Statement of a Sponsor, Family Member, or Friend
– Passport photocopy of the sponsor.
– Marriage certificate, if you’re married to a foreign national.
– Minors must have their parents’ marriage and birth certificates.
– Proof of sufficient finances.
– Hotel reservation confirmation.

Once you have submitted the documents and completed the formal round of interviews as per the respective country regulations, you will have to wait for a certain time period again as per the country’s processing time for approval. The cost also varies from country to country.

For in-depth information on Visitor Visa:

Business Visa

A business visa is the best way to travel to a country temporarily for work purposes. Consultations, conducting essential business meetings, contractual discussions, visiting conferences, exhibitions, conventions, and so on are all possible work reasons. These visas necessitate extreme caution during the documentation procedure, and a slew of forms must be filled out precisely to avoid errors.

To grow a firm, it is critical to expand its horizons to new and faraway shores. Travelling overseas permits you to expand your firm to more profitable economic areas throughout the world. To travel for this purpose, one must hold a Business Visa. A Business Visa will greatly assist you in obtaining funding for your startup or meeting a potential client.

Reasons viable for Business Visa:

• Attending a conference, meeting, or training Participating in a sports activity
• Seeking funds to start, join, or operate an abroad firm.
• Other commercial operations.
• Employees of a corporation based in another nation can engage in the following corporate or intra-corporate activities:
  • As an internal auditor, you may advise, consult, troubleshoot, or train UK employees on a specific project within the same corporate group.
  • Additionally, you may conduct regulatory or financial audits for a foreign branch of the same group of companies as your employer.
  • A multinational firm or organization can provide the visitor with training in work practices and processes that are essential for their employment overseas but are not available in their home country.

Some of the popular countries which grant a business visa are as follows:

• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Australia

The process and documentation of all countries might differ as per the respective country’s norms and regulations. Generally, the following things are required while filing for a business visa process.

Required Documents for a Business Visa
– Personal information
– Compensation and monetary information
– Itinerary and record of past travels
– Evidence demonstrating your ability to sufficiently finance your accommodation
– Evidence of your ability to cover the cost of your air transportation to and from the United Kingdom.
– Evidence of your departure from the UK upon the conclusion of your visit Evidence of the business activities you intend to engage in while in the UK

There is an Eligibility Criterion for Acceptance of a Business Visa
– The minimum age requirement is 18 years.
– It is imperative that you possess the means to sustain yourself financially throughout the entire time of your visit.
– You are required to fulfil the fundamental health criteria set by the government.
– In order to engage in commercial activities, it is imperative that you possess a valid invitation from a reputable company based in the nation where you intend to conduct business.

Here, again the process and acceptance of the business visa totally depend on the regulations and rules set by a respective country. The interview and clarity of the purpose should be very much clear and to the point for getting an acceptance of the business visa. The cost of this type of visa differs as per the country.

For in-depth information on Business Visa:

Work Permit Visa

Work permit visas are provided either temporarily or permanently. A temporary work visa is valid for a set amount of time, after which the visa holder must renew if his employer wishes to extend his (employee’s) stay. The duration of a work visa is determined by the number of jobs you have and the labour market conditions. Every country in the world seeks to recruit bright people to live and work there. Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, like other countries, have their own distinct policies for work visas.

These rules assist them in encouraging specific businesses like information technology, core engineering, health care, and research, which they believe require a boost from smart immigrants. These visas are usually temporary and must be renewed on a regular basis, or until your employment contract expires. The re-application process for these visas can be challenging because the individual may be too busy at work to deal with it.

Reasons that are viable for a work visa:

• An offer letter from an overseas organization
• Promotion or transfer of position on a foreign land
• Job changes to an overseas organization
• Selection to a position after an internship done in a company abroad.

Some of the popular countries which grant a work permit are as follows:

• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Australia

The process and documentation of all countries might differ as per the respective country’s norms and regulations. Generally, the following things are required while filing for a work permit visa process.

Required documents for Work Permit Visa

–  All academic certificates must be provided in duplicate.
– Duplicates of professional certifications.
– Employment credentials from former employers.
– Letter of reference from an employer.
– Executed client agreement (if applicable).
– In addition to the listed documents, you may be required to provide additional information/documents as per the specific requirements of the immigration office of a given nation.

Eligibility Criteria for Obtaining a Work Permit Visa

–  You must provide evidence of your intention to depart the country upon completion of your employment and expiration of your authorized stay.
– It is important to possess sufficient funds to provide for both yourself and your dependents.
Lacking any criminal history.
– You do not have any medical conditions and possess certificates indicating good health.
– You would exclusively engage in the work assigned by your employer, without undertaking any additional tasks.

The process and acceptance of a work permit visa are contingent upon the regulations and rules established by the individual country. To obtain approval for a work visa, the interview and the objective of the trip must be clearly and concisely communicated. The cost of this particular visa varies depending on the country.

For in-depth information on Work Permit Visa:

Dependent Visa

A person who is a resident of a country or has a legitimate non-immigrant status may apply for a dependent visa for their immediate family members. The criteria for granting dependent visas to family members vary in each nation, therefore it is critical to work with a competent adviser to guide you through the procedure. Direct relatives who are eligible for a Dependent Visa include children, adopted children, parents, and spouses.

This visa requires a specific set of documents, as well as filled-out application forms. To avoid mistakes, the information must be filled out carefully. The conditions for this visa vary by nation and include a variety of requirements. These laws and standards are also subject to change in response to global situations, local requirements, the employment market, and other factors.

Some of the popular countries which grant a dependent visa are as follows:

• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Australia

The process and documentation of all countries might differ as per the respective country’s norms and regulations. Generally, the following things are required while filing for a dependent visa process.

Documents Required for Dependent Visa

– Required documents include a valid passport, marriage certificate, or
– Any additional paperwork for establishing the partnership
– Required documents include dependent children’s birth certificates, proof of sponsor finances (bank statements), and medical test results.

 – Sponsor’s proof of employment – Documents equal to certificate of eligibility.

Eligibility for Dependent Visa

– Applicants must have a valid passport.
– The sponsor must have sufficient funds to sustain their dependents
– Requirements for sponsorship include confirmation of work and income, a medical checkup, and appropriate insurance for dependents.
– Completed application with included fee

The application and acceptance of a dependent visa are subject to the regulations and guidelines imposed by the specific country. To be approved for a dependent visa, the interview and the purpose of the trip must be presented clearly and simply. The cost of this particular visa varies by nation.

For in-depth information on Dependent Visa:

Other types of Non-Immigrant Visa’s

While there is a brief explanation of popular non-immigrant visas above, other visa types and visa policies to look at and discuss on to. Following are some options for non-immigrant visas

• Investor Entrepreneur Visa
• Transit Visa
• Religious Worker Visa
• Domestic Employee Visa

While there are different implications, reasons, eligibility criteria, processes, and costs for every type of non-immigrant visa, every type of the same holds a different level of importance in every country and our lives as well.

That’s Where We Come In!

We at Rao Consultants are engaged to make your overseas dream come true. Right from fulfilling every student’s dream come true every single day for studying abroad, we also hold success and expertise in non-immigrant visas. With 20+ years of experience in the industry of immigration and overseas education, we strive to help your visions get fulfilled without any hassle.

Book your free consultation now!